Microsoft Project for Mac
The free Microsoft Project alternative for Mac
Microsoft Project's desktop app runs on Windows, not macOS. Onplana Schedule is a free Mac app that opens .mpp files, shows the Gantt chart with the critical path, lets you edit the plan and saves it as Project XML. No Windows, no Microsoft Project.
- Free
- macOS 13 or later
- Apple silicon and Intel
- Opens .mpp
- Saves Project XML
Your options for Microsoft Project on a Mac
Three ways people work with Project plans on macOS, and what each one needs.
| Onplana Schedule for Mac | Windows in a virtual machine | Onplana in the browser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opens .mpp files on a Mac | With Microsoft Project installed | Imports them | |
| Edits and saves Microsoft Project files | Saves Project XML | Exports Project XML | |
| Needs Windows | |||
| Needs a Microsoft Project licence | |||
| Share the plan with a team | Publish a copy | Send the file | |
| Cost | Free | Windows and Project licences | Free plan, paid plans for more |
A virtual machine is the right answer if you need every feature of Microsoft Project itself. If you need to open, check, edit and pass on Project plans, a Mac app is simpler.
Open Project files in Finder
Double-click an .mpp, .mpx, .xer or Project XML file and it opens as a Gantt chart with the task grid, the hierarchy, the links between tasks, the critical path and float. ProjectLibre and GanttProject files open too.
Edit and send it back
Change names, durations, dates and links, and the plan reschedules as you type. Save as Project XML, which colleagues on Windows open in Microsoft Project. The original .mpp is never overwritten.
Plan together in the browser
When the team needs one live plan, publish it to a free Onplana workspace. Everyone opens it in Safari or Chrome with the Gantt chart, comments and assignments.
Start freeQuestions
Microsoft Project on a Mac
Is there a Microsoft Project app for Mac?
No. The Microsoft Project desktop app runs on Windows. On a Mac, the usual ways to use it are running Windows in a virtual machine with Project installed, or using a different app that reads Project files. Onplana Schedule is a free Mac app that does the second.
Can I open an .mpp file on a Mac?
Yes, with Onplana Schedule. Double-click the .mpp in Finder or drop it on the window and it opens as a Gantt chart with the grid, the critical path and float. You do not need Microsoft Project or Windows.
Is it free?
Yes. Onplana Schedule is free to download and free to use, editing and saving included. Publishing a copy to Onplana creates a free workspace, and you upgrade only if you outgrow it.
Which Macs does it run on?
macOS 13 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. It is a direct, notarized download, and the app updates itself.
Can I send the plan back to someone using Microsoft Project on Windows?
Yes. Onplana Schedule saves Project XML, which Microsoft Project opens through File > Open. A file you opened as .mpp is saved as XML beside it, so the original is never overwritten.
Does my file leave my Mac?
Microsoft Project XML files are read on your Mac. Every other format, including .mpp, is converted on Onplana’s servers, and the uploaded copy is deleted within 24 hours. The app says which before it opens a file.
What if my whole team needs to plan together?
Use Onplana in the browser, which works on a Mac in Safari or Chrome. It imports .mpp files and gives the team a shared Gantt chart with the critical path, baselines, comments and assignments. You can also publish a plan from Onplana Schedule straight into a free Onplana workspace.
Comparing tools more widely? See Onplana as a Microsoft Project alternative or ProjectLibre vs GanttProject, or check a schedule without installing anything with the Schedule Health Check.